Tasmania’s sustainable forest industry also supports the broader community

Members,

The Rockliff Liberal Government is proud of our sustainable timber industry which continues to operate sustainably and support thousands of jobs in Tasmania, many in regional communities.

Last financial year, Sustainable Timber Tasmania generated a total comprehensive income of $7.5 million for 2022-23, a net profit after tax of $4.1 million and positive operating cash flows of $3.6 million.

Minister for Resources, Felix Ellis, said Sustainable Timber Tasmania also contributed more than $120 million to the Tasmanian economy through payments to 593 Tasmanian businesses, including $54.6 million to harvest and haulage contractors.

“Sustainable Timber Tasmania is innovative, renewable and sustainable, and provides the jobs and the wood our growing economy needs,” Minister Ellis said.

“The value of STT extends beyond just forestry. It provides firefighting resources, public access to our forests through an extensive network of roads and bridges, including re-building three bridges at Mersey Forest Road which provides an important gateway to the Walls of Jerusalem National Park.

“During 2022/23 STT contractors transported over 1.2 million tonnes of forest products, including 160,700 cubic metres of eucalypt sawlogs and 8381 cubic metres of special species timbers for customers.

“During 2022/23 STT actively regenerated more than 5400 hectares of harvested forests by sowing about 186 million seeds which underpins the sustainable management of the forest estate.

“Timber is the ultimate renewable and critical to meeting the needs of Tasmania’s low carbon economy by providing sustainable timber products for housing, furniture and environmental friendly packaging.”

The Rockliff Liberal Government has a long-term plan to build Tasmania’s economy and we will continue to back our $1.2 billion sustainable forestry sector and the 5700 jobs it supports in regional communities.

/Public Release. View in full here.